Cupola Furnace-Diagram,Construction,Working

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Cupola Furnace-Diagram,Construction,Working

Cupola

Cupola furnaces are tall, cylindrical furnaces used to melt iron and ferrous alloys in foundry operations. Alternating layers of metal and ferrous alloys, coke, and limestone are fed into the furnace from the top. A schematic diagram of a cupola is shown in Figure. This diagram of a cupola illustrates the furnace’s cylindrical shaft lined with refractory and the alternating layers of coke and metal scrap. The molten metal flows out of a spout at the bottom of the cupola.

Description of Cupola

The cupola consists of a vertical cylindrical steel sheet and lined inside with acid refractory bricks. The lining is generally thicker in the lower portion of the cupola as the temperature are higher than in upper portion
There is a charging door through which coke, pig iron, steel scrap and flux is charged
The blast is blown through the tuyeres
These tuyeres are arranged in one or more row around the periphery of cupola
Hot gases which ascends from the bottom (combustion zone) preheats the iron in the preheating zone
Cupolas are provided with a drop bottom door through which debris, consisting of coke, slag etc. can be discharged at the end of the melt
A slag hole is provided to remove the slag from the melt
Through the tap hole molten metal is poured into the ladle
At the top conical cap called the spark arrest is provided to prevent the spark emerging to outside.

Schematic Diagram Of Cupola Furnace :

Operation:-

First the drop door at the bottom is closed. Sand bed with slope towards tap hole is rammed. Coke bed of suitable height is prepared above the sand bed and is ignited through the tap hole. After proper ignition, alternate layers of charge, flux and coke are fed through the charge door. Then the charge is allowed to soak in the heat and the air blast is turned on. Within 5 to 10 mins, the molten metal is collected through the tap hole. When enough metal is collected in the well of the cupola, the slag is drained off through the slag hole. Then the molten metal is collected in the ladles and is transported to the moulds with a minimum time loss.

Fluxes are added in the charge to remove the oxides and other impurities present in the metal. The flux commonly used is lime stone (CaCO3) in a proportion of 2 to 4% of the metal charge. Others fluxes used are dolomite, sodium carbonate, calcium carbide. Flux reacts with oxides to form compounds having low melting point and lighter so that it will float on the metal pool.

Charge calculations:-

Carbon:-

When charge comes through the coke bed, some amount of carbon is picked up by the metal depending on the temperature and the time when the metal is in contact with the coke. It is of the order of 0.15% carbon.

Silicon:–

It is Oxidised in the cupola and there will be a loss of 10% silicon. It may be as high as 30%. To increase the silicon content, ferrosilicon is added to the metal.

Manganese:-

There is a loss of 15 to 20% manganese during melting process. The content of manganese can be increased by the addition of ferromanganese.

Sulphur-

There will a sulphur pick up in a range of 0.03 to 0.05%.